CPNP Past President (2009-2010) and Saklad recipient (2008) Ann Richards, PharmD, BCPP, passed away October 25 after a 10-month battle with cancer. Ann was a leader, a role model, a mentor, a volunteer, a passionate advocate for psychiatric pharmacy, and a good friend. Our organization was blessed that Ann choose CPNP as her home association. Ann requested memorial donations to the American Cancer Society, American Heart Association, or Floresville Academic Scholarship Fund.
Amber Douglass, PharmD, BCPS, BCPP, welcomed a baby boy in early October.
Nina Vadiei, PharmD, BCPP, welcomed a baby boy on October 17.
Steve Burghart, RPh, MBA, BCPP, was awarded the Bill Bays Award from the Kansas Pharmacists Association. The award honors a staff member, pharmacist, technician, student or intern who has demonstrated outstanding commitment to raising awareness of the dangers of prescription drug abuse, substance use disorder or mental health awareness, among the general public and pharmacy community.
CPNP members James Gasper and Talia Puzantian worked with the California Board of Pharmacy to author an OUD collaborative practice sample and policy statement. The policy statement advocates for pharmacists providing direct care to patients with opioid addiction and assisting other medical providers in caring for this population, thereby expanding access to treatment. The policy statement closes with a call for changes in the law that will permit pharmacists to provide medication assisted treatment as part of a collaborative health care team.